[1+1=2]
OneAndOneIs2

Sun, Jan 13, 2008

[Link][Icon]The comforting familiarity of Windows

As you may recall, I got myself a new laptop at Christmas. It came with Vista installed.

Sometimes, just sometimes, I do actually have a want/need for Windows. So instead of just wiping the whole thing, I'm going to dual boot. Because of the potential perils of this, I want to make sure I can re-install Vista if the need should arise.

It doesn't come with install disks, it comes with software that will create them for you. So I'm currently going through all the options and making every possible backup, in the hopes that at least one of them will work.

The first one, the factory default, burned away merrily until it reached the end. Then it locked up.

That's what users want from their new Windows installations. Familiarity :o)

I rebooted and it seemed to work. Didn't go the whole way, tho - wanted to get all the other recovery options first. Right now, it's backing up drivers. I'll probably do another "default" just in case..

I'm hoping, perhaps naively, that the factory default won't have all the CRAP installed on it that the laptop does... This is what I get when I start up my virgin Vista laptop:

vista1

All those icons.. the application windows.. the sidebar icons... I don't want any of it!

Except for the webcam software.. that's quite handy. It's quite a good camera built into the laptop:

vista2

So once the disk is burned, I'll reinstall "default" Vista. Then I'll install Ubuntu as well. Then I'll take all the crap out of Vista, put on useful stuff like Firefox, and we'll be all set.

Speaking of Firefox, if you look at the webcam image, just to the right of my ear, you'll see my plush red panda - AKA the firefox. Good isn't it? :o)

(You'll also see Dilbert peeking over my shoulder. But let's not go there...)

6 comments • Categories: Omni, Rant, Technology, My Life

Comments:

Comment from: Andrew [Visitor] Email · http://www.andrewsteinhome.com
Good choice dual booting. It'll come in hand one day, trust me...

Vista is actually rather pleasant when you get it configured correctly. That said, if Ubuntu would correctly hibernate/standby on my Toshiba, I'd run it over Vista any day.

Some obligatory links -


Vista Battery Saver (disables Aero/Windows Sidebar when laptop is unplugged - Saves massive amounts of power)

http://blogs.microsoft.co.il/blogs/tamir/archive/2007/05/14/Vista-Battery-Saver.aspx

Speeding up Windows Vista (decent article)

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,2110595,00.asp

Resizing a partition in Vista using Vista's built in partitioner -

http://vistarewired.com/2007/02/16/how-to-resize-a-partition-in-windows-vista
PermalinkPermalink 13/01/08 @ 18:04
Comment from: oneandoneis2 [Member] · http://geekblog.oneandoneis2.org/
Thanks for the links, Andrew - I'll give them a go!

It took an hour, two wasted DVDs that failed to write properly, and two hard reboots because it locked up on me.. but I'm finally back to a laptop with Vista as it appeared on day one.

Now I just have to get Ubuntu on and all the cruft off...

Few hours to go yet! ;o)
PermalinkPermalink 13/01/08 @ 18:25
Comment from: Citronella [Visitor] Email · http://unsubstantialbubbles.blogspot.com
Good luck with all that. I think the worst with the dual reboot, for me, is that I boot under Windows about once every 3-4 months, and that the number of updates is huge. And I am behind a university firewall that does not give me any Internet access (except for updating) as long as my updates aren't done. And even though, the connection is limited to one hour. And after 4 months without any updates, I need more than one hour to complete them...
PermalinkPermalink 13/01/08 @ 19:50
Comment from: ginny [Member] Email · http://iamgenevieve.wordpress.com/
I have no idea what to say with all the technical stuff on your Blog...

But you do look ridiculously pretty on that photo. I'm not sure if that's a compliment or not, but you do
PermalinkPermalink 13/01/08 @ 21:46
Comment from: Andrew [Visitor] Email · http://www.andrewsteinhome.com
Updates? :P
PermalinkPermalink 15/01/08 @ 00:07
Comment from: oneandoneis2 [Member] · http://geekblog.oneandoneis2.org/
Well, I got the crap out - Just a taskbar and the Recycle bin show up when you start now. Broke control panel by taking out one option too many, but got it back after a bit of fiddling.

Just have to install a lot of FOSS like VLC and Firefox, and get the bloody thing to work on Wireless, and it'll be almost usable :o)
PermalinkPermalink 15/01/08 @ 11:08

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